Italian police investigate weeping Madonna

Forli, Italy, Mar 24, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Police
are investigating the case of a statue of the Virgin Mary, which
reportedly wept tears of blood last week. They are running tests on the
statue to determine the nature of the teardrops.

A group of
elderly, female worshippers first noticed that red tear-like drops had
appeared on the face of the 1.2-metre-high statue of the Madonna in the
town's Santa Lucia Church, says a March 22 ANSA report.

The news of a
possible miracle was reported to the local bishop who immediately
removed the figure, replacing it with a similar one, and called the
police. It has not wept since it was moved to the bishop's offices.

The number of
reported cases of Madonna appearances and of statues moving or weeping
has grown in recent years and the Vatican has become extremely cautious
about giving its seal of approval.

In September,
the Vatican said tears of blood found on a statue of St. Padre Pio in a
southern Italian town were not miraculous, reported ANSA.